The musical tradition of Germany & Vienna

Explore the best of two great music countries, coupled with your own command performance. Observe Germany’s many contrasts: its industrialization alongside age-old castles and quaintly painted village towns. Be dazzled by Vienna, Austria’s capital, with its State Opera House and glittering palaces. This Music and Mountains trip will put you in touch with famous natives like Mozart, Haydn, Liszt and Strauss.

Your Adventure, Day by Day

10 Days

Day 1 :
Depart from North America

- Flight to Munich:Relax and enjoy our scheduled flight from North America
Our 24-hour WorldStrides Tour Director will meet us at the airport and remain with us
until our final airport departure.

Day 2 :
Arrive Munich Area

- Nymphenburg Palace:Explore the splendid Nymphenburg Palace, once the residence of the Bavarian
kings. Of particular interest is the Rococo Banqueting Hall, with its vivid
frescoes by Johann Baptist, and the Gallery of Beauties, which displays
portraits of the loveliest women of the time of Ludwig I. Visit the Carriage
Museum, which houses coaches, carriages and sleighs once belonging to the
Bavarian rulers, before enjoying a stroll in the formal Gardens

- Dinner:We will dine this evening in a local restaurant.

Day 3 :
Day Trip to Neuschwanstein and Garmisch-Partenkirchen

- Neuschwanstein Castle:Visit Neuschwanstein Castle which is situated on an outcrop of rock towering
over a gorge in the River Pollat. This is one of Germany’s most famous castles,
though the king himself only lived there for 172 days. The Throne Room,
designed in Byzantine style, with gilded mural paintings, mosaics and a huge
chandelier, will highlight our tour.

- Oberammergau:The quaint town of Oberammergau, is famed for its woodcarving center and renowned
for its painted houses, in a colorful style known as Lüftmalerei, typical for the region. In
addition, Oberammergau is famous worldwide for its Passion Play.

- Garmisch and Partenkirchen:Spend time in the twin villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen, which make up
Germany’s top alpine resort. In spite of their urban flair, the towns maintain the charm
of an ancient village, often with country folk in traditional dress. The towns and their
environs offer some of the most panoramic views in Bavaria.

- First Concert Performance:Your first concert performance will be today.

Day 4 :
Munich Area – Herrenchiemsee – Salzburg Area

- Walking Tour of the Altstadt:Enjoy a Walking Tour of the Altstadt (Old Town) of Munich, beginning at
the Karlstor, once a gate to the walled city. We will then view the Altes
Rathaus and Peterskirche before strolling down Neuhauser Street, Munich’s
largest shopping street, lined with typical 19th century buildings.

- Herrenchiemsee Castle:Stop at Herrenchiemsee Castle, built on an island in Chiemsee by King
Ludwig II of Bavaria. He wanted to build a replica of Versailles and emptied
the coffers of 20 million marks to build this palace in which he lived only one
week before his death.

- Travel to Salzburg:Our hotel in Salzburg (Area), will be our base for the next 3 night(s). While here, we
will enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Day 5 :
Salzburg

- Walking Tour of Salzburg:Enjoy a Walking Tour through the Old City, a maze of meandering lanes,
curious steeples, cobbled streets and spacious squares. Here we will view
Mozart's Birthplace, the Old Square, the Cathedral, and the Residenz. A
highlight of our walk will be the Glockenspiel, an early 18th century carillon
with 35 bells. We can hear the bells from any one of the cafes lining the edges
of the Mozartplatz, while sipping our favorite coffee or drink.

- Hohensalzburg Fortress:Take the Funicular up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the former stronghold
of the ruling prince-archbishops. We will visit the elegant State Apartments; the
Burgmuseum, with a magnificent collection of medieval art and many Gothic
artifacts; the Rainermuseum, which exhibits arms and armor; and the beautiful
late Gothic St. George's Chapel, with intricate marble reliefs of the Apostles.
From the Watchtower view the panoramic sweep of the Alps and from the
Kuenberg Bastion, views of the domes and towers of Salzburg.

- Mozart’s Birthplace:Visit the house where Mozart was born in 1756, and tour the museum dedicated
to his life and works.

Day 6 :
Salzburg

- Residenz:Visit the Residenz, Salzburg’s opulent palace, which was the seat of the
Salzburg prince-archbishops. The child prodigy Mozart often played in the
Conference Room for guests, and in 1867, Emperor Franz Joseph received
Napoléon III in the palace. Enjoy a tour of the richly decorated State Rooms,
and the Residenzgalerie Salzburg, an art gallery that contains European
paintings from the 16th to the 19th century, displayed in 15 historic rooms.

- Second Concert Concert Performance:Your second concert performance will be today

Day 7 :
Salzburg Area – (Melk or St. Florian) – Vienna

- The Baroque Abbey and Abbey Church:Visit Melk Abbey, one of the finest baroque buildings in the world. Our tour of
the Abbey will include: the Marble Hall, which contains pilasters coated in red
marble, and a richly painted allegorical picture on the ceiling; the Library with
some 80,000 original volumes; and the Kaisergang (Emperors' Gallery), which
is decorated with portraits of Austrian rulers.

- Abbey of St. Florian:

- 3 Nights in Vienna:Vienna was for 600 years, the glittering capital of the Hapsburg Empire. Today it is the
capital of Austria. Vienna has an incomparable musical heritage and is the city of
Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn, Brahms, and Johann Strauss.

Day 8 :
Vienna

- State Opera House:Spend time at the State Opera House, which was opened in 1869 with a
performance of Mozart’s Don Juan.

- Schönbrunn Palace:Stop just outside the city center for a visit to the 1,441-room Schönbrunn
Palace, which was designed for the Habsburgs before becoming the imperial
summer palace during Maria Theresa's 40-year reign. It was the scene of great
ceremonial balls, lavish banquets, and fabulous receptions held during the
Congress of Vienna. (One of these included a performance by a 6 year-old
Mozart.) Our tour will include the State Apartments and a stroll through the
Imperial Gardens

Day 9 :
Vienna

- St. Stephen's Cathedral:Explore the Old City with a visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the greatest
Gothic structures in Europe. St. Stephen’s is rich in woodcarvings, altars,
sculptures, and paintings. One of the paintings shows the scene of the double
marriage between the Hapsburg, Bohemian, and Hungarian dynasties in 1515
that laid the foundation of the Austrian Empire.

- The City Park:Explore City Park, where we can see the various monuments commemorating
the Great Composers of the past.

- Haus der Musik (House of Music):Visit the Haus der Musik (The House of Music), an interactive discovery
museum where visitors can conduct the Vienna Philharmonic from a virtual
conductor’s podium (the musicians on the screen will tell you if you are up to
par.) Journey back in time to see the great classical composers; and compose a
waltz and have it played. A total of 5,000 square meters has been set aside
exclusively for areas dedicated to a wide array of approaches to music.

- Third Concert Performance:Your third concert performance will be today.

Day 10 :
Departure from Vienna

- Flight Home:Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our guide accompanies us to the
airport on our final day.